Rescue Air 1

To learn about Rescue Air 1's Alert Status System,
click here.

Early activation of Air Medical Transport can
make a difference in patient outcome.

Clinical Considerations

How do you know when to call for our helicopter to transport your patient? We follow the American College of Surgeon's Committee on Trauma's Clinical Considerations, which are as follows:

TRAUMA:

Unrestrained passengers in moderate or high speed head-on, T-bone, rear-end, or rollover collisions.
Death of occupant in same vehicle as patient.
Extrications exceeding 20 minutes.
Unresponsive patients.
Pedestrian versus vehicle greater than 10 miles per hour.
Motorcycle rider thrown from motorcycle traveling greater than 20 miles per hour.
Falls from a height greater than 15 feet.
Active penetrating injuries to the head, neck, or torso.
Trauma score of 10 or less.
Glasgow Coma Score of 8 or less.
Systolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or less after initial resuscitation.
Heart rate less than 60 beats per minute or greater than 120 beats per minute after initial resuscitation.
Electrical or chemical burns after decontamination.
Major burns.
Burns involving the respiratory system.

MEDICAL/SURGICAL:

Cardiac patients requiring emergent intervention.
Any intubated patient.
Any ICU to ICU transfer where ground transfer time exceeds 30 minutes.
Arterial blood gases with pH of 7.20 or less or greater than 7.50.
Systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg or greater than 200 mmHg requiring vasoactive medications.
Known or suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Patient less than 48 hours status post cardiac arrest requiring transfer to another facility.
Cardiothoraciac, vascular, or neurosurgical intervention.

PEDIATRICS:

Acute organ failure requiring aggressive resuscitation.
Meningitis, hypothermia, status epilepitus, status asthmaticus, or drowning/near drowning.
Unstable vital signs such as: Respiratory rate less than 10 breaths per minute or greater than 60 breaths per minute. Heart rate less than 90 beats per minute or greater than 150 beats per minute. Systolic blood pressure less than 65 mmHg in the infant from 0 – 1 year of age; less than 70 mmHg in the infant that is 1 – 5 years of age; or less than 80 mmHg in the 5 – 12 year old.